David Silva is confident Manchester City will enjoy plenty of glory in the years to come.
Since the club were bought by Sheikh Mansour in the summer of 2008, some of the top players in the world have pitched up at the City of Manchester Stadium. Robinho was the first big-name signing, but he has since been dwarfed by the likes of Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero, who have all gone on to establish themselves as some of the best performers in the Premier League.
With such a star-studded squad assembled, it was only a matter of time before the silverware followed, and an FA Cup success in 2011 ended a 35-year wait for a major trophy. Even better was to follow last season, when an Aguero stoppage time goal gave them a first league title since 1968, made all the more sweeter by the fact they pipped United on goal difference for the crown.
Their defence of the title has been something of a damp squib though, and despite a 2-1 win at Old Trafford last Monday, they remain 12 points adrift of the Reds. And there has been more disappointment in the UEFA Champions League, where Roberto Mancini’s men once more failed to get past the first stage having finished bottom of their group.
It hasn’t all been bad, as they travel to Wembley on Sunday afternoon to face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final. And Silva has used this opportunity to remind their critics that City are still a work in progress, whilst revealing his optimism that they will have far more success in years to come both at home and, more significantly, on the European stage as well.
“We are building a team and a club and we will win many, many more titles,” he told the Sunday Mirror. “We’re not worried about people commenting on us. Every year the spirit is better. Three years ago we weren’t even qualifying for the Champions League and, let’s be honest, when we have qualified we have had two very difficult groups. It is clearly something we have to improve, but we will get there.”
